Flying-machine.



PATEN'I'ED JUNE 11, 1907. W. PHILLIPS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED no.1. 1905.

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PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

PHILLIPS. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N fi u m n U A W 7 Y W B 1 ma a u u u 1 T Wu No. 856,910. PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1907.

w. PHILLIPS. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

shaft, and means for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WILLIAM PHILEEEFEIMGO, ILLINOIS.

r FLYIN G eItIIACHINE I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed August 1,1905. Serial No. 272,146;

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS, a citizen of the-United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved F lvin -Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a class of machines designed for travel in the air and has for its object to provide novel details of constructi on for a machine of the character indicated, which are simple and practical and enable the navigation of the air in any direction.

The invention in brief embodies a 'car, a plurality of eculiarly constructed wings mounted on the car, novel means for communicating motion to and controlling the adjustments of the wings for effecting progressive movement in any direction, a guiding vane, and means for changing the position of the vane from the interior of the car.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as is hereinafter described and defined in the subjoined claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part, of this specification, in wlnch similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts ip all the figures.

Figurel is a perspective view of the complete machine; ig. 2 is an enlarged, partly sectional side elevation of the machine, taken through its longitudinal axis, the wings being broken away; Fig. 3 is a partly sectional side view of the lower portion of the car, and the le attachments therefor, the section being su stantially on the line 33 in Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of the lower portion of the wing-actuating gearing employed; Fig. 4 is an enlarged I broken and sectional side view of the upper portion of said driving gearing for the win s Fig. 5 is a'plan view of the frames of the uplicate ilot wings showingtheir construction an( arrangement; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frames of the lower wings showing their construction and arrangement; Fig. 7 is a partly sectional fragmentary side view of frame portions for the pilot wings, an upper portion of a wing supporting and. drivin racing the shaft an( the wings thereon; Fig. 8 is a side view of a car seat, of a Windlass, and cords wrapped on the Windlass for controlling a steering vane;

Fig. 9 is a partly sectional side view of an uper portion of a car-frame and of a motorrame, showing a sli htly modified means for hin ing the motorrameon said car-frame; an Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of a steering vane and the support. therefor, that is a detail of theinvention.

The car wherein the operator is housed also carries means for its movement through the air in various directions, said means bein hereinafter more fully described.

The supporting car is preferably formed with a frame comprising a circularly edged bottom plate 10, provided with a peripheral flange a projected u wardly. ()n the bottom plate, at suitab e intervals, a plurality of similar frame strips 10 are secured by their lower'ends, and thence extend upward in parallel planes. Said strips are of any suitable light yet strong material, having a length sufficient to permit a person to stand upright in the car after the introduction of other details. Two of the frame-strips It) that are opposite each other, are formed of thin steel or other strong metal, and are designed to sustain the mam portion of weight and strain imposed upon the car frame. These strips and the other frame strips are bent toward a common center, and at their inner ends are secured upon a metal ring, not shown. The said two metal frame strips are reinforced by two transverse brace bars 10", 10, which are of suitable metal or may he of wood, the cross bar 10 being joined to the upright frame-strips 10 at the points where they join their overhead arched members as shown in Fig. 2, the other cross-bar 10 being secured by its ends a proper distance below the bar 10 and parallel therewith.

A turntable 1O is provided, of slightly greater diameter than the bottom-plate It), and at its edge a hook flange a is turned upward and inward so as to have a rotatable engagement with the flange a, as shown in Fig. 2. Centrally in the bottom plate It) and'turntable 10, registering apertures ol circular form are produced. wherein is fitted a depending cylindrical collar 6 that projects downward from a bottom piece 6 that is the lower end of a tubular seat 10 and whereon said bottom piece is secured; and as appears in Figs. 2 and 3, the collar 1; is firmly secured in place on the turntable after a series of antifriction balls I)" are introduced in oppo site circular grooves formed in the bottom piece I) and turntable It)".

The flying apparatus consists of two sets of.

wings each set being difl'crent-ly shaped and rotated oppositely, one set above the other. The upper wings 11 of a similar form are preferably two in number, it being tinderstood that a greater number may be eniployed, but as all extra Weight is objectionable the best results are had with the prel'erred number. Each win 11 is peripherally segmental, as indicated in ig. 5, where they are shown in plan and appear as joined together, but in fact are separated by the spindle or shaft 11 whereon they are oppositely mounted. The spindle 11 is formed of thin tubular metal or other available material, and'is of a sufficient length'foreffective service as a su port and driving shaft for the upper pair 0' wings. Each wing 11 is composed of a skeleton frame comprising the following members: three collars c are mounted upon the spindle '11 and secured thereto at proper distances apart, the. upper collar being suitably spaced from the upper end of the spindle and on the latter belowthe lowermost collar 0 a spider chavinga hub, radial arms and a circular peripheral ring is secured as indicated in Fig. 7-; and as represented in said figure, a conical casing 11 is fitted upon the upper portion ofthe spindle 11?, having its lower'edge, aflixed upon the spider ring 0 and convergin to the upper end of said spindle, whereon t e caS- ing is secured by suitable means.

As a means for stiffening the upperportion of the spindle 11 and the casing 11', that.

may be of fibrous or other light strong thin material, a plurality of light, strong, tie strips or cords (I extend from the collars c to the spider ring 0. From each of the collars c radially extend two ribs 0 in substantially opposite directions, the ribs at one side of the collars being portions of the frame for one wing,- and thoseat the opposite side corresponding rib members for the other upper wing. On the ribs for one wing 11, a series of spaced and curved bows c are-secured, these bows that are formed of elastic ratan or other suitable material, being arranged concentrically to each other, and gradually lengthened so as to project about an equal' distance from the radial ribs that'are outermost, and upon the ends of the bows c and the outer ends of the ribs 0 aborder flange c of thin metal plate is secured concentric with the bows. It is to be understood that the collars c are so adjusted on the spindle 11* that the ribs 0 will be disposed in spiral order, so that when the frame of each wing 11 is covered with a suitable fabric 11 each wing will appear as the segment of a screw, the pitch or spiral trend ofone blade or wing being opposite from that of the other wing.

The covering 11 for the wings 11 may be of silk or other-strong, light fabric, that is stretched taut over the frame of each wing on their under sides, and the fabric may be reinforced over the ribs 0 by securing strips of light, strong fabric on the covering above said ribs, not shown. To give proper form to the wings, a series of guy-wires or cords a are affixed by one end of each upon the flange c and thence are extended to respectively have their outer ends secured upon the ribs c'-, which latter aredrawn by the guys so as to render the lower surface of each wing concave, and the upper surfacecorrespondingly convex.

It will be seen in Fig. 1', at the right. side, that the corners on the outer ends of the wings 11 may be rounded somewhat if this is preferred, the border flange a being properly shaped to effect this, and it will be obvious that these wings' which simulate the shape of those of a large bird, will have a powerful lifting effect when the spindle 11 is quickly rotated in the direction. of the curved arrow in Fig. 1. The lower set of wings 12, four in number, are of similar shape and construction as will be hereinafter described, the means for mounting these wings upon the spindle 11 consisting of the following details, which appear in Figs. 2, 4 and 4 A light sheet metal drum is provided having a cylindrical side wall g preferably less indiameter than that of the flange or ring 0 on the spindle c, the upper end of said drum being closed by a flat head plate 9'. A tubular'shaft 13 having a true bore is loosely mounted upon. the spindle 11" and passes throughthe center of a collar 9 that is secured thereto near the upper end thereof, the shaft extending a proper distance below said collar, said collar resting on the head wall g of the drum 9. Between the upper end of the tubular shaft 13 and the top wall or head plate 9'. of the drum, a roller bearing 9 is introduced, the rollers thereof bearing upon the spindle 11 and holding it spaced from the shaft 13. A motor supporting frame consisting of a plurality of spaced upright bars it that are joined to a spider 72 having a central ,hub h is held concentric with the hollowshaft 13, by the loose insertion of said shaft through the hub as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the spider havingacollar thereon adjacent to the hub h and a ball bearing is placed between the'opposed faces of the collar and hub, asshown in Figs. 2 and 4. Be-

low the hub 72?, on the frame members it, projections h are formed. or secured, and between said projections and the lower, side of the hub a roller bearing h is held, the rollers of which have peripheral contact with the cylindrical body-of the tubular-shaft 13. A bevel gear 7c is secured upon the shaft 13, that faces downwardly, and between the upper side of said gear and the projections h a ball bearingis introduced, as is clearly shown. in Fig. 4. The lower end of the motor frame is preferably closed by a pan h, for catching any preferred constguction, located and secure( in the supporting frame just described. A hinged connection is formed between the lower end of the motor holding frame and the cross bar 1O on the frame of the car hereinbefore described. Said connections may be as shown at i in Fig. 2, which permits the motor supporting frame to be rocked in opposite directions so as to assume inclined positions, one of which is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 at the right. It is preferred however, to connect the motor supporting frame on the cross bar 10 by a double hinge as indicated at t in Fig. 9, which permits the motor frame to be rocked in four directions instead of two, which will enable the more perfect operation of the wings of the machine, as will .be further explained hereinafter. A radial flange lc is formed or secured upon the lower portion of the spindle 11 whereon the lower extremity of the tubular shaft 13 seats and is supported to rotate, and immediately above said flange a bevel gear k is secured upon said shaft 13, having its toothed face lowermost, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Upon the portion of the spindle 11 that extends below the lower end .of the shaft 13, an annular swivel block m is loosely mounted, carrying roller bearings m and m that respectively have contact with the exterior of the shaft 13 and with the spindle 11, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. From one side of the swivel block m a short ournal shaft m projects, whereon a bevel gear k is mounted free to rotate, said gear meshing with the upper bevel gear lc'l A preferably similar bevel gear k is secured upon the spindle 11", below the block m, and meshes with the bevel gear 15 as shown in F i 4. The spindle 1 1 projects below a collar 4 thereon, and on said end a conical pointis formed, this point having a seat in a cupped bearing formed in a cross bar k that is secured by its ends to opposite members it of the car; and it will be obvious that this support for the spindle greatly reduces frictional resistance to its rotation if the cup bearing is properly lubricated. As the hollow shaft 13 is held concentric with the axis of the spindle 1 1{ by the roller bearings H? and m without other lateral contact, this serves to reduce friction between said parts to a minimum degree. Upon the hub of the bevel gear 70 which projects outwardly, a sprocket gear k is secured that may be connected with a similar wheel on a motor held 'in the motor frame already described, so that by the operation of the motor not shown, the shaft 13 and spindle 11 will be rotated oppositely by the geared connections specified.

Referring to the wings 12, shown in Figs. 1,

i 2 and 6, these are essentially fan-shaped, and

are each constructed with a skeleton franie, consisting of a plurality of ribs n that radiate from the cylindrical wall spaced apart by a series of curved bow s n t at are isposed concentrically with the wall of the drum 9 and with each other, the ends of the bows and outer bow being strengthened by a reinforcing border flange 11. The four wingslfl are disposed oppositely in pairs, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have a similar dip or downward inclination, and

g and are held also a diagonal trend of like degree where they join the cylindrical wall g, thus giving the wings a similar screw twist to that had by the blades of a marine propeller. The skeleton frames of the four wings 12 are covered with light, strong fabric properly stretched and secured thereon, and each wing is held against lateral displacement by the braces 0, that may be thin strips of any suitable material, fastened at their ends upon the outer ends of the wings. As before mentioned the wings 12 are rotated in a direction opposite from that given to the upper wings 1], that is to say, as is indicated by the arrow in in Fig. 1,and it is essential that the area of the four wings should be so proportioned to the upper wings 11 that the tendency to rotate the entire machine about the spindle 11 as an axis will beneutrali'zed.

An important feature of this improvement is the provision for alighting and maintaining the machine in an upright position whilenot in 'use, this comprising four legs 14 that not only serve as a base for the apparatus, but

also are utilized as a means for supporting and adjusting a steerin vane 15. Thelegs 14 may be formed of light metal tubing and are hinged upon the lower side of the turntable 10 at four equally distant points as indicated at p in Fi s. 1 and 2, two of said legs also appearing in Fig. 3. The leg designated by a reference character 1- is the forward one, r r are two opposite side legs, and 1' re resents the rear leg, and as shown, all the egs are limited in outward movement by stay rods 1- that extend down from the turntable 10 and at their lower ends are attached to collars .1 which are respectively mounted and may be secured at suitable points on the legs or be permitted to slide thereon. The two legs 1" are controlled in their rocking movement by means of two levers c that are extended upward into the hollow seat 10 and are crossed and pivoted where they have lapped engagement as shown in Fig. 3. The diverging upper ends of the levers o are pivoted upon similar ends of two link rods '0 which pass freely through opposite openings in the side wall of the seat 10 The lower ends of the levers v are pivoted upon the similar ends of two connecting rods 12 that at their remaining ends are pivoted upon the side legs 1", and to enable these legs to receive rocking adjustment by manipulation of the link rods v by a person in the car, the collars IOO IIO

1" may be allowed to slide on the legs 1". Upon the front leg 1" preferably above the collar 1* thereon, one end of a frame rod .9 for the vane is pivoted, said frame rod extending laterally and rearwardly from the front leg of a suitable length for its effective service as a portion of the vane, the rod lapping upon t 1e rear leg 1' is pivoted upon a slidable collar 1" that is mounted upon the rear leg as shown in Fig.- 2. A similar frame rod u is pivoted by one end on the front leg r at a suitable point below the upper frame rod ,8, and thence extends rearward across the rearleg r whereon it is slidably secured as clearly shown in Fig. 10,.this loose c'onnection comprising a collar a loosely mounted the frame rods a and s,

upon the rear loosely mounted upon the low er frame rod a, these collars u, a being pivoted together where they have lateral contact, this connection of the swiveling collars permitting the lower frame rod of the vane to slide endwise in the collar of and also be adjusted longitudinally of the rear leglr by a sliding movement of the collar a t ereon.

The frame rods 8 and u are spaced apart by thin light but rigid cross bars that are indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and the main portions of the frame thus produced are covered with a suitable fabric that completes the blade of the vane as is shown in sa1d figures. U. on the lower extremity of the rear leg 1* a s eave'wheel w is mounted loosely, and on said sheave wheel the bight of a doubled cordv or other light, strong flexible connect-ion is placed, the two runs w, w of the cord or rope being extended upward across and thence throu h the collar 1) into the hollow body of t e seat 10 A Windlass is mounted on the seat wall 10 occupying an opening therein, and on the roller shaft t of said Windlass the ends of the two runs 11;, w of the doubled cord or rope are secured near the ends of said shaft, and

thence are wrapped in opposite directions thereon, so that these runs of cord that extend upward from the sheave wheel w when the roller shaft t is rotated will be respectively wrapped thereon and unwrapped therefrom. It will be seen that by means of the Windlass and doubled cord just described,

the vane blade may be rocked upwardly or be permitted by its gravity to incline more or less downwardly as the proper control of the flying machine may require. Furthermore it will be evident that the fixture of the hollowseat post 10 upon the turntable 10 and the loose connection of the edge of the latter with the bottom plate 10 of the car frame,

enables an operator who is seated upon the post 10 to turn the latter in either direction, and with it the blade of'the vane 15, by a turning movement of his body. The car g r and a similar collar u" frame is apertured in its side for the entrance and exit of an operator, the door opening being closed by a skeleton door frame, represented in Fig. 2, and the car body frame and door frame are covered with suitable fabric,

or thin sheet metal if'this is preferred, thus excluding the elements.

()ne means for inclining the motor frame and wings 11, 12 at any desired angle from a perpendicular position is shown in Fig. 2, consisting of a plurality of tackle ropes l and blocks 1 that are connected at suitable oints with the upper portion of the motor tame, and the ropes that engage the sheaves of the blocks extending down into the car, maybe lashed fast to projections on the car frame to secure the motor frameas adjusted. As shown in Fig. 2, a ladder may be provided to facilitate access to the motor to be placed in the car frame as hereinbefore specified.

In operation, assuming that the actuating mechanism held in the rockable motor frame, is capable of developing sufficient power for the rotation of the wings 11, 12 at a desired 7 speed, it will be seen that if the spindle 11 is given a perpendicular position, the rotation of the wings 11, 12 in opposite directions as is indicated by the curved arrows in Fig. 1, will cause the wings to lift the machine as an entirety until a desired height is attained. If it is desired to travel laterally in a certain direction, the motor frame and wings carried thereon, are inclined a proper degree by an adjustment of the tackle ropes l, and thus adapt the wings to exert a pull in the direction toward which the spindle 11 inclines, it being of course understood that the adjustment of the steering vane 15 adapts said vane to co-act with the wings for giving the machine a desired direction. When a descent of the flying machine is desired, it is only necessary to reduce the speed of rotation of the wings 1], 12, thus permitting the force of gravity to gradually overcome the ascending force of the wings, so that the apparatus may be gently lowered to the ground. When the machine is descending, the operator manipulates the Windlass so as to pull upon the run w of the doubled cord wrapped on the roller shaft of the windlass,which will force the front leg r outward. The side legs 1" are also spread apart by manipulation of the link rods 22 in an obvious manner, so that a wide base is provided by the outwardly inclined legs for the stable support of the flying machine in an upright position on the ground or other level base.

While the preferred use of the improved machine is for navigation of the air by a passenger carried in the car of the apparatus, it is also contemplated to so arrange the size of the device and relative proportion of parts that it may be operated as a toy, and

themotive power in this case may be a coiled sprin on each frame.

2. An air ship comprising a casin for su porting a motor, a shaft connected t erewit 3 said shaft being provided with lifting vanes,

a frame pivotally supported below the motor casin means connected with the motor casing w ereby to swing the frame at an angle with res ect to said motor casing, a rotatable turn tabIe connected with the frame and having a seat projecting into the frame, a vane connected with the turn table, means for swinging and lowering the vane, and legs connected with the turn table for supporting the frame when in an active, position. 3. A flying machine com risin wings supported centrally on a spind e, said Wings having a segmental spiral form and extending in opposite directions, each wing comprising Il s extending in spiral order radially from the spindle, bow strips secured transversely. of the ribs, and a cover stretched on the ribs.

4. A flying machine com risin wings supported centrally on a spind e, sai win s having segmental spiral form and exten ing in opposite directions, and each wing com rising a plurality of ribs extending in spira order radially from the spindle, and a cover .mounted upon the motor frame, a hollow connected with the ribs.

5. A flying machine embodying a framed car, a motor frame rockably mounted on the upper portion of the car frame, a spindle shaft mounted on the spindle, means for rotating the hollow shaft and the spindle in opposite directions, means for inclining the motor frame, spindle and shaft together in a desired direction, two so mental dished wings secured oppositely on t e spindle, said wings having spiral trend in the same direction, and four segmental spirall twisted wings mounted on the hollow sha t and inclining in a direction opposite from the spiral trend of the upper paired wings.

6. A flying machine embodying a framed car, a turntable rotatable on the bottom of the car frame, adjustable legs on the lower side of the turntable, and means for adjusting said legs from the interior of the car.

7. A flying machine, embodying a car frame, a turntable rotatable on the bottom of the car. frame, a plurality of legs hinged by one end of'each on the bottom of the turnta ble, means for turning the table from within the car frame, a steering vane sup orted on the""legs extending laterally there om,'and means for raising or lowering the outer end of the vane, said means being controlled fromwithin the car frame.

8. A flying machine embodying a skeleton carframe, a turntable held to rotate at its edge on the bottom wall of the car frame, a

hollow seat post in the car frame having a' collar passing down through an opening in the bottom of the car frame and secured in a registering opening in the turntable, legs hinged by one end on the lower side of the turntable, a steering vane adapted for rock ing movement on the le s, means for rocking the vane in a vertical lane from within the car'frame, and means or rocking two opposite legs from within said -car frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM PHILLIPS.

' Witnesses:

WILLARD A. WARMAN, EDGAR N. PHILLIPS. 

